Anthosoma crassum

Anthosoma crassum is a copepod crustacean and a parasite of fish, particularly sharks.

The preferred hosts are fast swimming lamniform sharks, including

blue shark

mako shark

white shark

but it has also been reported from the whale shark and from a bony fish, ocean sunfish (Kabata).

Once on its host Anthosoma crassum burrows into the skin until it is partially buried, with only its rear end protruding from the cavity it has excavated.

Shark skin is tough and the copepods often burrow into softer tissues such as the mouth, or walls of the gill chamber.

Anthosoma crassum feeds on the tissues and blood of its hosts.

Species detail

Anthosoma crassum attaches to the host by means of long clawed antennae.

The antennae are then

withdrawn into sheaths that extend back into the head of the parasite

the parasite is brought into closer more secure contact with the host

Anthosoma crassum then uses its strongly clawed maxillipeds to pull itself into position, so the tubular mouth comes into direct contact with the skin of its host.The crustacean then rasps away at the skin using its toothed mandibles which lie within the tubular mouth.